I recognize Baltimore didn't invent this chant, it goes back to Italian soccer fans. But in America, it is associated with one team - at least it is now.

Before the Super Bowl, people in Baltimore knew "Seven Nation Army" was a popular local chant.

AFTER the Super Bowl - the most watched program in American television history - the entire country now identifies the Ravens with the "Seven Nation Army" chant. From the random pregame show chants all the way to the eruptions inside the Superdome, it's a Ravens thing now.

The larger question is: is this part of our identity as Ravens fans now, or just a fad that will pass?

I think it's our Thing now. Other teams do use it, but those teams are in other sports like we've said (soccer, college football, etc.)

I recently had two new people move into my apartment from Germany and England. They are huge soccer fans and they root for the Ravens now--not only because the person who taught them American football was me (:D) but also because the chant is rowdy and recognizable, which are soccer qualities. When they were watching the SB and could hear it through the TV, they got really excited.

I had never heard the Seven Nation Army chant before last years game against the Steelers (I believe), I never watch soccer and rarely watch college FB so because I'm so sheltered and all, I guess that chant will always mean Ravens to me. OT, a few times during and after the SB I heard the old Colts/ new Ravens Victory song and I ain't gonna lie I damn near cried. It's a tune that brings back so many memories and thoughts of people long gone that it gets to me every time.

I've heard other NFL teams use it too. This season I heard it in KC and Seattle. No one seems as loud as the Ravens fans but when I hear it I can't think that it's a Ravens thing because it's in other places.

I've seen people wanting to retire that chant and I came out swinging on that. But here is my issue with it...

So, in the stadium on gameday, it is a great rally cry when we make a big stop, or are rolling on offense. It's a very easy thing for people to jump in with, and you are LOOKING for that goosebump inducing roar of the crowd singing over top of the song. So there, we should still use it.

But that has become the goto for like EVERYTHING....and folks, when people do that without a large crowd or music there, it JUST SOUNDS STUPID. Our thing is "OOOOO, ooo, OO, oo, oo, ooooo, oooooo...."? I mean, it fits with the Orioles stuff, but...

What I'd prefer there, is that when you're trying to fire up a crowd outside the stadium, or anything like that, use the "What's Our Name? RAVENS" chant. I got that on film at the stadium, and it's awesome to hear the roar of the crowd screaming "RAVENS". And it doesn't sound stupid on it's own.

Rant over.

02-08-2013, 07:48 AM

HoustonRaven

I have to admit, I was getting a little sick of it by Monday.

And if we want to be uber technical, Michigan State deserves the credit for starting it. They've been doing it since the song came out in '03.

I was down on bourbon street before kickoff. Two niners fans were talking smack to our group. Our drunk asses did the squirrel dance right in front of their face and it pissed them off to no end. We finished off with the Ravens chant and the whole street seemed to join in, hundreds maybe even thousands in purple. The niners fans weren't mad anymore they were intimidated and scared. You could see them asking themselves, "Who are these crazy people?" I love the chant and hope it's here to stay.

The 7 Raven Nation Army song is great. I think it will continue for another year or more but eventually it will get sporadic. Other teams use it and it's based on a popular song - popular songs fade away and so will this one, just like "Who Let The Dogs Out?!!!"

As far as a something that's clearly 'RAVENS' i'm not sure, but i do know something that historically has been traditional in Baltimore. The Cheerleaders and a well known Fan named Big Wheel led "C-O-L-T-S Colts" Cheers all over Memorial Stadium for 15 plus years. In an effort to continue that tradition we've led "R-A-V-E-N-S Ravens" cheers after every score since 1998. Several thousand people join in every game.

I was not a fan of it at first, but it's grown on me. And I have to admit, I absolutely LOVE hearing it over the TV during away games. Hearing it in Denver, NE, and then NOLA was, with apologies to Joe Flacco:respect, fucking awesome!:happyanim

And for those that don't like it, we always have the "Bullshit" chant from Week 3.:laugh:

I was not a fan of it at first, but it's grown on me. And I have to admit, I absolutely LOVE hearing it over the TV during away games.

This. Just like when teams hate seeing piss-colored towels in their own stadium, teams hate to hear the Ravens invasion from the chant. ... Don't really get all the hate for it. We have an awesome original song already, the Colts-->Ravens fight song.

It was good to hear over this superbowl run-
But by the end of the week I was really tired of it.

I hope that they retire it and whip it out whenever they honor those players from this superbowl run.
It not original and colleges sing it all of the time...
And we werent the first to do this chant-
Retire it!!

This. Just like when teams hate seeing piss-colored towels in their own stadium, teams hate to hear the Ravens invasion from the chant. ... Don't really get all the hate for it. We have an awesome original song already, the Colts-->Ravens fight song.

btw...They were playing that when we scored in the Superdome, half the stadium singing along then the loud "FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT" was awsome.